Some of the criticism I get with my approach to DEIB work centers around the fact that I am calm, lead with empathy, am always willing to dialogue with people who disagree with me, and don't get riled up that easily.
The insinuation is that my compounding privilege allows me to adopt this disposition, that I don't really care that much, that I'm somehow. . .passive.
Well, that's just a bunch of bullshit, you ignorant motherfuckers. I'll prove to you that I know what the hell I'm talking about. . .
See, doesn't work, does it?
One of my inspirations for doing DEIB work is Gandhi. A million quotes I could use, but I think this one is relevant:
"I have never advocated passive anything."
Gandhi says this when he's just been let out of prison by the British, and they're surprised that he's not more pissed off about continually being imprisoned for standing up for his beliefs and his people.
But he doesn't lower himself to their way of interacting. He is not intimidated. He is not thrown off track.
The British are bemused, condescending, presuming that because he doesn't yell and scream and cuss that he is ineffective, intimidated. . . passive.
Well, we all know what happened to the British in India.
Gandhi was not passive. Neither am I.
And neither should you be.